UK Border Agency - Top Tips for Travellers to the UK
With thousands of people returning from their holidays, the UK Border Agency understands that delays to your journey can be stressful. To ensure you are not held up any longer than necessary it may help you if you follow the agency's top tips for holiday travellers.
1. Always produce a valid passport or travel document for yourself and any child you are travelling with. If you have different family name or not the child's parent, we may ask for proof of your relationship or letter of travel consent from the parent.
2. If you are a European Union (EU) citizen, and you are aged 18 or over and have a chipped passport, you can use our e-passport gates. This service offers a secure, self-service alternative to our conventional border controls.
3. Never give false or misleading information (including false receipts or documents) to a UK Border Agency officer.
4. Just because an item is on sale in another country it does not mean that it can be brought to the UK - you need to be aware of the rules on restricted or banned items. You are not allowed to bring endangered animals and plants, including products made from them, into the UK unless you have a permit.
5. Never bring in counterfeit goods, drugs, offensive weapons (including knives) or indecent or obscene material.
6. You must declare any sums of cash of 10,000 euros or more (or the equivalent in another currency) if you are travelling from a country outside the European Union.
7. You may need a licence to carry some prescription medicines in to the UK.
8. There are restrictions on food products that you can bring into the UK from outside the European Union, even for personal use. For example, you cannot bring in meat or dairy products. Restrictions also apply to fish products, egg and honey products, and some fruit and vegetables.
9. There are also allowances on the amount of goods such as tobacco, alcohol and gifts you can bring into the UK.
10. If you are unsure of any item you are carrying, you must speak to a UK Border Agency officer.
Remember: Carrying items that are banned or for which you don't have a licence or permit is illegal - if you are caught smuggling, you could face severe delays and penalties, including imprisonment.
For more information visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/travellingtotheuk/